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The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
VMRDA to undertake major land pooling, aiming for ‘Miami of the East'
Visakhapatnam The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) is set to undertake a massive land acquisition exercise as per the government's directives and NITI Aayog's Growth Hub Strategy. The aim is to transform Visakhapatnam into a 'Bay City or Miami of the East'. The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department has authorised the VMRDA to implement a Land Acquisition Scheme (LPS) for acquiring 1,941.19 acres. This includes 1132.09 acres in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram (25.41 acres) and Anakapalli (783.69 acres). Keeping in view the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER) plan, this land pooling will enable two key urban sprawls, Vizag 2.0 (210 sq. km) and Vizag Bay City (40 sq. km), to be developed as brownfield projects to accommodate future urban and economic growth in a structured and sustainable manner. The approved land pooling model, guided by the VMRDA's Land Pooling Scheme Rules, 2016, is designed as a debt-free financing method. Landowners voluntarily provide land and in return, a portion of the developed plots is allotted to them. VMRDA will monetise the remaining land to fund infrastructure development. This approach avoids huge acquisition costs and fosters public-private collaboration in urban planning. The scheme will also pool public and private lands near strategic corridors like the Anakapalli-Bhogapuram Highway. In addition, regularisation of eligible encroached lands will be undertaken, with the RDOs of the respective districts being appointed as the implementing officers. The Visakhapatnam regional economy is expected to grow from $54 billion to $135 billion by 2032. To support these developments, the government is investing in comprehensive infrastructure, including the Vizag Metro Rail phases 1 and 2, scheduled to be completed between 2028 and 2030. The project will connect IT corridors and the Bhogapuram International Airport (second phase). 'Land pooling serves as a non-debt capital mobilisation tool, allowing VMRDA to create a land bank of developed plots from pooled lands and to monetize developed plots to fund major infrastructure projects such as metro rail, roads, utilities. Ensure cost-effective urban development by avoiding large-scale upfront land acquisition costs. Ultimately, it will take forward Vizag 2.0 and Vizag Bay City concepts into reality,' a VMRDA official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Kedah govt extends condolences to families of Gerik bus crash victims
ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Government has extended its condolences to the families of the 15 Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who were killed in a tragic bus accident on the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding, Gerik, early yesterday morning. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said condolences were also extended to those injured in the horrific crash, including the driver and passengers of the Perodua Alza, who are from Kedah. 'My heartfelt condolences to all those affected. The families are surely devastated by the loss of their loved ones, while the injured are still receiving treatment at the hospital. I pray for their speedy recovery so they may resume their studies at UPSI, and I hope their families remain strong in facing this test. 'My sympathy also goes to the family of Ustaz Lutfi (Mohd Lutfi Radzi), the driver of the Perodua Alza involved in the crash. It is understood that his wife and children are still receiving treatment at the hospital. We have sent a representative to visit them and will continue to monitor their condition,' he told reporters after attending the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Aidiladha gathering, here today. In the 1.10 am accident, a bus carrying 42 UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, collided with a Perodua Alza and overturned, resulting in the deaths of 15 UPSI students. The Perodua Alza driver, Mohd Lutfi Radzi, 37; his wife Nurul Ain Zakaria, 36; and their two children, Nur Aisyah Nafishah Mohd Lutfi, 6, and Muhammad Ahsan Nafis Mohd Lutfi, 3, were also injured in the crash. Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the authorities concerned must prioritise allocations to repair, widen and straighten the JRTB as road conditions are part of the contributing factors in accidents. 'The safety aspect of public vehicles and driver's discipline are important, but the road structure also has to be taken into account. People travel the JRTB route day and night. The volume of vehicles is rising, and many of them are large, yet the road remains unchanged, it's still the same old road. 'Therefore, there needs to be a reassessment of whether the road design is suitable for current speeds, traffic volume and flow. For those in the north heading to the East Coast, that's the only main route available. So more attention must be given to prevent similar incidents from recurring,' he added.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Kedah govt mourns UPSI crash victims, urges road upgrades
ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Government has extended its condolences to the families of the 15 Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who were killed in a tragic bus accident on the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding, Gerik, early yesterday morning. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said condolences were also extended to those injured in the horrific crash, including the driver and passengers of the Perodua Alza, who are from Kedah. 'My heartfelt condolences to all those affected. The families are surely devastated by the loss of their loved ones, while the injured are still receiving treatment at the hospital. I pray for their speedy recovery so they may resume their studies at UPSI, and I hope their families remain strong in facing this test. 'My sympathy also goes to the family of Ustaz Lutfi (Mohd Lutfi Radzi), the driver of the Perodua Alza involved in the crash. It is understood that his wife and children are still receiving treatment at the hospital. We have sent a representative to visit them and will continue to monitor their condition,' he told reporters after attending the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Aidiladha gathering, here today. In the 1.10 am accident, a bus carrying 42 UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, collided with a Perodua Alza and overturned, resulting in the deaths of 15 UPSI students. The Perodua Alza driver, Mohd Lutfi Radzi, 37; his wife Nurul Ain Zakaria, 36; and their two children, Nur Aisyah Nafishah Mohd Lutfi, 6, and Muhammad Ahsan Nafis Mohd Lutfi, 3, were also injured in the crash. Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the authorities concerned must prioritise allocations to repair, widen and straighten the JRTB as road conditions are part of the contributing factors in accidents. 'The safety aspect of public vehicles and driver's discipline are important, but the road structure also has to be taken into account. People travel the JRTB route day and night. The volume of vehicles is rising, and many of them are large, yet the road remains unchanged, it's still the same old road. 'Therefore, there needs to be a reassessment of whether the road design is suitable for current speeds, traffic volume and flow. For those in the north heading to the East Coast, that's the only main route available. So more attention must be given to prevent similar incidents from recurring,' he added.
